Disposable ash tray packet



Jan. 16, 1962 w. A. ROONEY DISPOSABLE ASH TRAY PACKET Filed May 16, 1960 W M E m United htates Patent Q 3,017,063 BEEPDSABLE ASH TRAY PACKET William A. Reoney, 517 /2 Ridge Road. Wilmette, Ill. Filed May 16, 1960, Ser. No. 29,521 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) The present invention relates generally to ash trays, and is particularly directed to disposable ash trays arranged in a flat packet and adapted to be carried in a purse or pocket.

In the interest of safety, as well as orderliness, it is frequently desired to have an ash tray where none is available. It is the principal object of this invention to provide a compact packet of disposable ash trays in the form of a flat, small envelope so that they may be easily carried in a pocket or purse and still be readily accessible for use wherever and whenever they are needed. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a packet of disposable ash trays which may be simply and economically produced. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a selected embodiment of the invention, and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of an ash tray packet embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the packet in its open condition, showing the individual ash trays accessible for use;

FIGURE 3 illustrates one of the individual ash trays carried within the packet seen in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank used in the fomation of the outer envelope seen in FIGURES l and 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of the blank used in the formation of the individual ash trays.

With reference particularly to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, it is seen that the selected embodiment of the invention comprises a generally flat packet of disposable ash trays. The packet includes an outer envelope 12 of paper-board or the like, and a plurality of individual disposable ash trays 1 arranged within the outer envelope. Each of the individual ash trays 14- is formed of flexible sheet material which is suitably treated, at least on the inner surface thereof, with a fire resistant material. The ash trays are each in the form of a generally fiat receptacle having one end open, and the side edges adjacent the end opening converge toward a lower closed edge so that the receptacle may be readily opened by the application of inwardly directed pressure on such converging side edges.

With reference to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the outer envelope 12 for the packet is formed from a blank of flexible sheet material, such as relatively stiff paper or a relatively thin paperboard, and at least one side surface of the blank is preferably treated, as indicated at 16, to be fire resistant. The fire resistant characteristic might be provided by coating the sheet material with a suitable material, such as ammonium phosphate, or such surface might be faced with a thin ply of metallic foil. The blank comprises four integral panel sections, with the center panel 18 being generally trapezoidal in shape and providing the back of the packet. The panel 18 is an isosceles trapezoid with the non-parallel sides lit and 22 of the center panel converging uniformly toward each other in the direction of a relatively short, lower end panel 24. A pair of side panels 26 and 23 are hingedly connected along the non-parallel sides of the center panel, and these side panels 26 and 28 provide, with the lower end panel 24, the front cover portion for the envelope 12. The upper edge 30 of the center panel has hingedly connected thereto a cover panel 32 which is generally of the same configuration as the center panel 18, but which is preferably somewhat shorter in length in order to permit easy opening of the packet.

In the formation of the outer envelope 12, the end panel 24 is folded upwardly over the center panel 18 and the side panels 26 and 28 are then folded over the end and center panels and the folded panels are suitably secured together to form the outer envelope (FIGURE 2). Although other means of attachment for the side and end panels might be used, the illustrated embodiment includes a glue line 34 (FIGURE 4) or the like along the lower edges of the side panels 26 and 28, respectively, for bonding these panels in place on the outer surface of the lower end panel 24. The upper edges of the side panels include arcuately cut out portions, indicated at 36, so that as the side panels 26 and 28 are secured in position on the lower end panel 24- there is provided a generally semi-circular cutaway section (FIG- URE 2) at the upper edge of the front cover thus formed for the packet. This cutaway section affords easy access to the individual ash trays disposed within the packet.

The individual ash trays 14, as noted particularly in FIGURE 3, are of a configuration generally similar to that of the outer envelope 12, but are preferably formed so that the wider end 38 of the ash tray is open, and this open end preferably does not include a closure flap such as is provided for the outer envelope 12. The individual ash trays are preferably of a relatively lighter weight sheet material than that used for the outer envelope, in order that a plurality of such ash trays might be disposed within the outer envelope.

As noted in FIGURE 5, each ash tray 14 is formed from a blank of paper, relatively thin paperboard, or the like, which is suitably coated or faced, on at least one side, with a fireproof material, indicated at 40. The sheet material used in forming the ash tray 14 may be faced with a metallic foil or the like, or may be coated or impregnated with a substance, such as ammonium phosphate, to provide fire resistant properties for the sheet. The blank includes a central panel 42, in the form of an isosceles trapezoid, a pair of side flaps 44 and 46, and an end flap 48 disposed across the smaller dimension of the trapezoidal panel 42, with the side and end flaps being connected to the central panel along fold lines. The side panels 44 and 46 are shaped so that they can be folded over the center panel 42 in slightly overlapping relation to one-another, with their upper and lower edges in alignment with the upper and lower edges of the central panel. A glue line 50 or the like along one of the side panels provides for bonded attachment of the two side panels 44 and 46 after they are thus folded over. The end panel 48 is also provided with a suitable adhesive coating, as indicated at 52, and this panel is folded into overlying relation to the side panels 44 and 46 and bonded thereto to provide the tray seen in FIGURE 3.

It is seen, therefore, that the described ash tray packet provides a fiat, compact arrangement for a plurality of disposable ash trays, each of which is adequate for a single use and the entire packet may be easily carried in a pocket or purse. The individual ash trays are of sufficiently light Weight material to permit packaging of a number of these ash trays in asingle packet, while at the same time each ash tray is adapted to contain live ashes, or a portion of a burning cigarette, without transmitting any substantial heat to a person holding the ash tray. When the cigarette is to be disposed of, it can be dropped into the individual ash tray and the latter crushed to extinguish the cigarette. As noted above, the outer envelope 12 may also be made with a fire resistant inner surface, so that as the supply of ash trays is exhausted the envelope can be used as an ash tray.

Although shown and described wish respect to a particular embodiment, it will be apparent that various modifications might be made without departing from the prin ciples of this invention.

I claim:

1. A disposable ash tray packet comprising a generally fiat outer envelope having a front portion and a back portion joined together so as to present a pair of opposite side edges which converge in the direction of the lower edge of said envelope, said front portion being formed of a pair of generally similar panels each having an arcuate section cut from the upper corner edge thereof to provide an arcuate access opening at the upper central part of said front portion, said back portion having an extending tab section foldably connected thereto along its upper edge to provide a closure flap for said envelope which extends downwardly in covering relation to said arcuate access opening, and a plurality of disposable ash trays inserted within said envelope, each of said ash trays comprising a generally flat, open-end receptacle formed of fire-resistant sheet material, and said ash tray comprising a front and back panel joined along three sides with the two opposite sides converging toward the third side to present a configuration for the ash tray, when flat, generally corresponding with the configuration of said outer envelope.

2. A disposable ash tray packet comprising a generally flat, outer envelope formed of fire resistant, flexible sheet material and having a front panel and a back panel joined together at opposite sides along non-parallel lines so as to define side edges which converge in the direction of the lower edge of said envelope, said front portion being formed of a pair of generally similar panels each having an arcuate section cut from the upper corner edge thereof to provide an arcuate access opening at the upper central part of said front portion, said back panel having an extending tab portion foldably connected thereto along its upper edge to provide a closure flap for said envelope which extends downwardly in covering relation to said arcuate access opening, and a plurality of disposable ash trays inserted within said envelope, each of said ash trays comprising a generally fiat, open-end receptacle formed of fire-resistant, flexible sheet material and including a front and back panel which are joined along three sides, with the two opposite sides of juncture being non-parallel and converging toward the third side of juncture to thereby present a configuration for the ash tray, when flat, generally corresponding with the configuration of said outer envelope.

3. A disposable ash tray packet comprising the combination of a generally flat, quadrangular outer envelope having a front panel and a back panel joined along three sides so as to provide an open-end receptacle, said front panel having a cutaway section adjacent the central portion of its upper edge to provide a front access opening, an extending tab portion hingedly connected with the remaining side of said back panel to provide a closure flap for the open end of the envelope which is adapted to cover said front access opening, said envelope being formed so that the pair of opposite side edges adjacent said open end converge toward the closed end of the envelope, and a plurality of disposable ash trays inserted within said outer envelope, each of said ash trays comprising a generally fiat, open-end receptacle formed of flexible, fire-resistant sheet material and including a front panel and a back panel which are joined along three sides, with the opposing, joined sides of said tray convereging from the open end thereof toward the remaining closed side of the tray, to thereby present a configuration for the ash tray, when flat, generally corresponding with the configuration of said outer envelope and affording opening of the tray by the application of inwardly directed pressure on said opposing joined sides.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,553 Dickerson Ian. 7, 1930 988,453 Forney Apr. 4, 1911 2,432,656 Cook Dec. 16, 1947 2,688,914 Eckler Sept. 14, 1954 2,720,903 Pickren Oct. 18, 1955 

